MacDonald Becomes Prime Minister

Date: January 22, 1924 • Location: London, United Kingdom

Ramsay MacDonald took office as the first prime minister of the United Kingdom from the Labour Party.

James Ramsay MacDonald was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, first briefly in 1924 and again from 1929 to 1935. The first two of his governments belonged to the Labour Party: a minority Labour government for nine months in 1924, making him the first Labour Prime Minister in British history, and the second between 1929 and 1931. In 1931, MacDonald was expelled from the Labour Party; after, he formed a National Government dominated by the Conservative Party and supported by only a few Labour members. His premiership then lasted until 1935.